Essential Tips for Military Members Renting Their First Home

The nature of the military causing moves every few years, the real estate market, and young careers drive many service members (single or married) to the rental market in search of their first home.

The competitive rental market requires some finesse. Here’s what you need to know if you’re moving into your first rental.

1) Determine your budget.

Many people follow their Basic Housing Allowance (BAH) to guide their budget. While it’s a great starting point, it doesn’t account for everything.

“Your BAH isn’t intended to cover 100% of your housing expenses—95% is more accurate. That leaves the remaining 5% coming from the remainder of your paycheck. Is 5% a lot? As far as percentages are concerned, no. But depending on where you live, you might find that 5% equates to several hundred dollars—a crucial thing to keep in mind as you start drafting your budget to stay within your new BAH rate.” — Tips for Living Within Your BAH 

Expenses to add to your budget: 

• Rent
• Utilities (water, electric, gas, internet, trash)
• Renters insurance
• Security deposit
• Gas
• Public transportation (if applicable) 
• Groceries 

In addition to cost-of-living expenses, it’s important to consider your financial goals, like getting out of debt, saving for a down payment, and buying a car, as you create a budget for your rental. These goals will help guide your current spending and promote long-term financial health.  

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2) Decide on your priorities in a rental home. 

Rental options come in a variety of styles and sizes, from on-base military housing rentals to rooms for rent, apartments, condos, and single-family homes off base. Determining which type of rental best aligns with your needs depends on your priorities.

• Storage: Does the rental accommodate all your belongings and gear?
• Furnished or unfurnished: If you don’t have furniture, is the rental furnished? 
• Roommate: If you’re interested in having a roommate, is there space for a second tenant? 
• Amenities: Does the rental include access to laundry, a gym, a pool, a golf course, and adequate parking? 

Photo from Canva

3) Decide if you want a roommate.

Do you want to share your rental with a roommate? They can help reduce rental expenses by splitting rent and utilities; however, there’s more to consider before co-signing a lease. 

Questions to ask yourself before making the decision from our post 6 Tips to Help You Find the Right Roommate: 

• Will the space accommodate everyone and store the military gear needed?
• How would you feel about a stranger as a roommate?
• Consider your stage in life. For example, a 35-year-old dad might not hit it off with an 18-year-old right out of basic training.
• Are you willing to live with different genders? 
• Can you trust the other person enough if you have to travel or deploy?

Finding someone in a similar place in life, whether they’re showing up to their first duty station or geo-baching, is crucial to a successful roommate relationship—as is setting proper expectations to avoid uncomfortable situations down the road.   

4) Inspect the property.

Before signing a lease, do a thorough inspection of the property. Examining every nook and cranny helps protect your investment and quality of life. 

Issues to look for in a rental home: 

• Existing damages. 
• Ensure that all appliances are in working order. 
• Flush the toilets and make sure that the tubs drain. 

Document everything from a snag on the carpet to a dented wall with photos or videos to protect your security deposit when it’s time to move out.

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5) Read through the lease.

Leases lay out all the expectations the landlord has for tenants. While some leases are generic and cover obvious rules like “don’t destroy the house” and “pay your rent,” most go into more detail discussing variables such as:

• Maintenance policies  
• Lease terms and penalties
• Security deposits 
• Utilities and rent inclusions 
• Pet policies 
• Renovation plans 

These details can help you determine whether or not this rental is a good fit for you. Landlords are entitled to security deposits to protect their property from destructive tenants. However, the amount and whether or not it’s refundable is up to the landlord, as long as it doesn’t exceed state laws.

Some landlords include utilities in rent to avoid switching over accounts for each new renter, while others let you handle this. If you’re a military member and unsure of how long you’ll be stationed in this location, it might be worth checking to see the landlord’s extension policy and whether or not there’s wiggle room while you figure out your next step.

While the military clause is nice to have because it shows the landlord understands the lifestyle and is more likely to be polite to work with, it isn't necessary if you need to break a lease for PCS orders or deployment—the SCRA covers that for you. 

6) Save essential contacts in your phone.

Once you find the right rental, save essential contact info. The landlord or property manager and maintenance lines are all crucial. Though you could always look through your files for the lease, there’s nothing like clicking your contacts when the dishwasher starts flooding the kitchen or the garage door refuses to close when you’re already late for work. 

Final note for military members searching for a rental: You may be required to check in with the housing office before renting a home off base. They will have a list of off-limits housing or banned areas if that's applicable. Even if you're not required by the command to clear a landlord with the housing office first, it's a good idea to check in if you feel unsure about a rental you find.

Start your rental home search here with MilitaryByOwner, where you’ll find rentals near military installations across the U.S.